Road-cart



(No Model.)

J. B. BURROUGHS 'ROAD CART.

No. 428,330. Patented May 20, 1890;

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. BURROUGHS, OF SHORTSVILLE, NEWV YORK.

ROAD-CART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,330, dated May 20, 1890.

Serial No. 332,432. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. BURRoUeHs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shortsville, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicles, 01": which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicles, and more particularly to that class in which only two wheels are used, the invention consisting in a novel means of mounting the axles and connecting themwith the other parts of the running-gear, in a novel arrangement of devices for taking up the horse motion, and in various other features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side View ofa vehicle mounted in accordance with my i11- vention; Fig. 2, a rear end view of a port-i011 of the running-gear; Fig. 3, a detail View.

A indicates the body of the vehicle, supported at its front and rear by cross-springs B B, which are attached at their ends to the side springs O .O, the springs B and 0 being connected by shackles. At a point between their ends the side springs are secured, either rigidly or by means of shackles, to a cross-bar E or to a cross-spring D, carried by the bar E.

Vhen the spring and bar are both employed, the spring will be secured at its ends to the side springs, and the bar, to which said spring D is also secured, will be supported by the side bars F F. These side bars comprise a horizontal portion a, an upright portion 6 at the rear end, and an upright portion 0 at the forward end.

Secured to the rear ends I) of the side bars is a tube or shell G, in which are mounted the axles H H, the axles being free to turn within, but not to move lengthwise of, the shell, a set-screw d, passing through the latter and projecting into a groove in the axles, preventing anylongitudinalmovement. Each of the axles, which, by the way, are independent of each other, comprises two turned or finished arms a and f and a connecting arm or portion g, the arm 2 fitting snugly within the tubular shell or casing G and the arm f being designed to receive the wheel.

Secured rigidly to the side bars, or, if desired, to the bottom of the body A, near each side, is a rod or bar I, having a shoulder h near its rear end, against which a spring .I, coiled about the rod, bears, the opposite end of said spring bearing against the eye or perforated end t' of the rod K. The rod K extends rearwardly parallel with rod I, and passes through the lower end of a plate j, secured to the axle; or, if desired, the rod may be connected directly with the axle.

In the construction shown the bar or rod K is provided with notches, so that its position upon the rod 1, on whichit is designed to slide, may be varied, any variation, however, of the relative positions of the rods I and K serving to throw the lower arm f of the axle farther from or nearer to a vertical plane passing;

through the axis of the upper arm of the axle. Care should be taken, however, to so arrange the parts that under all adjustments. the lower arm f will be in rear of the Vertical plane passing through the axis of the arm 6, the an gle or inclination of the arm g being preferably about sixty degrees. A rod or strap is, secured to the bodyA and passing in rear of the tubular shell or casing G, prevents the latter from pounding the body, but at the same time permits free movement of the body relatively to the shell, or vice versa.

The shafts L are pivoted to the forward ends of the side bars, or, if desired, to the body, and are each provided on their inner face with a link M, having an eye or per forated headZ to fit upon a rod or stem N, which is pivoted to the upper end of the portion 0 of the side bars, or, if desired, to side of body, a horizontal spring 0, interposed between the eye or head Z of link M, and a shoulder m, formed upon the rod N.

The most important feature of the present invention consists in hanging the divided axle so that the wheelsupporting arm f shall occupy a position in rear of and below.

the arm 6, from which the'axle swings, this construction and arrangement permitting the wheel to move or swing backward and upward when meeting with an obstruction, while the body continues its forward movement. As the axle thus swings backward and upward the spring J will be compressed or put under tension by the rod K, which is connected with the swinging axle, and owing to the fact that the spring is arranged in an approximately horizontal position its compression,due to the swinging of the axle, will not raise nor affect the forward motion-of the body, as would be the case were this spring arranged to work vertically.

I am aware that cranked axles are not new and that it has been proposed to arrange the two arms thereof in nearly the same horizontal plane, and to this I make no claim. Unless the wheel-supporting arm be arranged behind and considerably below the journalarm there will not be the action or movement that is secured by my construction. It will be found advisable in most cases to so arrange these two arms 6 and f that the connecting-arm g will incline at an angle of about sixty degrees to a horizontal plane. It is not my intention, however, to limit myself to this precise angle or inclination, for although this arrangement gives good results a variation of a degree or two either way will not materially affect the operation of the devices. After the wheel has passed over the obstruction the spring J Will, acting through the rod K, return the wheel and axle to their normal position. Instead of arranging this spring J so as to be compressed, it could be applied to the rod I on the opposite side of the head or eye 1 in such manner as to be extended, the action being the same in both cases.

The arrangement of the horizontal spring 0 at the forward ends of the side bars prevents in a great measure the horse motion that is so objectionable in this class of vehicles, for it is clear that as the shafts swing upon their pivots they will put the springs 0 under horizontal tension, thereby arresting the independent movement of the shafts and side bars. It might be found desirable in some cases to omit the side bars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the combination, with the body, of horizontally-acting springs, and the independent cranked axles having their axle-arms below and slightly in rear of the journal-arms.

2. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the combination, with the body, of suitable side bars and springs, and the independent cranked axles having their lower arms below and slightly in rear of the upper arms.

. 3. In a two-wheeled vehicle substantially such as shown, the combination, with the side bars, of the independent cranked axles, having their wheel-supporting arms in rear of and below their journal-arms.

' 4. In a vehicle, the combination, with the body and the cranked axles, of the horizontally-acting spring, and a rod or coupling connected with the axle and serving to put the spring under tension as the axle swings backward.

5. In combination with the body, side bars, and springs, axle 11, provided with arms e, f, and g, a rod 1, secured to the side bars and provided with a spring J, and a rod K, secured to the axle and adapted to put the spring J under tension as the arm f of the axle swings backward.

6. In combination with the body, side bars, and springs, rods I, secured to the side bars and provided each with a spring J, cranked axles H, supporting the side bars, a plate, as j, secured to the upright arms of the axles, and a rod K, provided with an eye or head 2' to fit upon rod I and with notches to engage the perforation in the lower end of the platej.

7. In combination with the body and springs, cranked axles having their wheelsupporting arms in rear of their journal-arms, the horizontally-acting spring J, and an adjustable connection between the axle and spring.

8. In a vehicle, the combination, with the body, the side bars, and the hinged or pivoted shafts, of a horizontally-acting spring 0, and intermediate connections, substantially such as shown, between the shafts and side bars, whereby the spring is adapted to take up the horse motion.

9. In combination with the body and side bars, shafts L L, pivoted to the side bars or body, a link M, having a perforated eye or head Z, rods or stems N, pivoted to the side bars or body and passing through the eyes Z, and a horizontally-acting spring 0, placed upon each rod N.

10. In a vehicle, the combination, with the side bars having upturned ends, of the body, the side springs connected with the body and the side bars, a tubular shell G, secured to the rear ends of the side bars, cranked axles mounted in said shell, a horizontally-acting spring acting upon the axle, shafts pivoted to the forward ends of the side bars, a rod or stem also pivoted to the side bars, and springs carried by each rod adapted to be put under compression as the shafts swing upward upon their pivots.

11. In combination with the body, side bars, springs, and cranked axles, a rod or strap connected with the body and extending up behind the axles.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH B. BURROUGHS.

WVitnesses:

FRANK S. BIDWELL, E. D. MEAD. 

